Sunday [19 August 2012] is the first day of Eid al-Fitr in Kurdistan and anyone who marks Saturday [18 August 2012] as Eid in Kurdistan is guilty according to religion, said head of High Committee of Fatwa in Kurdistan.

On July 20 [2012] Saudi Arabia marked the first day of the holy month of Ramadan but a day after, on Saturday [21 July 2012] , Kurdistan entered Ramadan because moon was not seen in Kurdistan until then, said Mulla Ahmed Shafei.

Shafei continued "tomorrow is 100% Ramadan in Kurdistan … and Sunday will be the first day of Ramadan.

"Anyone who marks tomorrow [18 August 2012] Eid as in Saudi [Arabia] according to religious law will be guilty and should compensate the day.

"In Kurdistan Region we have our own Ministry of Endowment [and Religious Affairs], the Union of Islamic Scholars and High Committee of Fatwa which is our authority not Saudi [Arabia."

Iraq and its Kurdistan Region usually mark the first day of Ramadan together with Sadui Arabia but this year Kurdistan entered the Muslim holy month a day after Saudi Arabia.